neheing



(No Model.)

W. NEHRING.

LOOK;

No. 440,187. m Patented Nov. 11

NITED STATES PATENT F IcE.

ILLIAM NEHRING, OF EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,187, dated November 11 1890.

Application filed October 25, 1889- Serial No. 828,129. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N EHRING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, in {the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists in certain features of novelty that are particularly pointed out in the claims hereinafter, a lock embodying said invention being first fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved lock with the near knob and the face-plate removed. The latch and two bolts are shown by the full lines in theirprojected or shot positions, the retracted position of the lock-bolt being indicated by the dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view with still other parts removed, the positions of the omitted parts being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 isavertical section on the line 3 3,Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an axial section of the knob on the line 4 4, Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the knob on the line 5:5, Fig. 4.

A represents the lock-case, which is provided with the various openings for the accommodation of the key, the knob-spindle B, the latch C, the lock-bolt D, the auxiliary bolt E, and the securing-screws. In the vicinity of the key-hole the sides of the case are provided with shoulders a, similar shoulders a being formed on the side of a post F, which rises from the base-plate of the lock-case about equidistant from its bottom and rear sides. These shoulders constitute a seat for supporting and confining a plate G, whose office is to prevent the turning of any key that does not have features complementary to it. It has a hole corresponding to the key-hole of the case, and is held down upon its seat by a projection on the underside of the face-plate that bears upon it below the key-hole and by the inner end of the lock-bolt which projects over it above the key-hole. It is thus held equidistant from the base and face plates of the lock-case, so that it will always bear the same relation to the key, no matter from which side the latter is inserted.

At a plane slightly above the shoulder a the post F is provided upon its opposite sides key and with a shoulder 61', which is engaged by a shoulder or stud h on the tumbler II. The form of the tumbler is substantially that of a bell-crank, and it is pivoted at its angle upon a circular base or stud I rising from the base-plate. The key in turninglifts the heel end of the tumbler until the shoulder h disengages the shoulder d. It then enters the notch d and shifts the bolt, and then permits the tumbler to resume its normal position. This latter is aided by a coiled spring .I, which bears at one end against the arm h of the tumbler, and at the other end against the latch O, which it tends to hold normally in its projected or shot position. The spring J may be held in place in any desired manner. In the drawings it is shown held by two opposing pins, which project from the tumbler and latch, respectively, and enter the opposite ends of the spring. This spring has no bearing upon or connection with the lockcase, and may, if desired, constitute the sole means for holding the latch and tumbler to their work. On the other hand, it may be dispensed with entirely, in which case its double duty may be performed by a weight eccen trically attached to the knob-spindle B. The spindle is non-circular in cross-section and passes through a corresponding opening in a nut K in customary manner. This nut is formed with or has secured to it a plate or lever 70, which is provided above the spindle with a perforation for the reception of a pin 0, projecting laterally from the inner end of the latch 0. By this means the movement of the spindle is transmitted to the latch. The lower end of this plate or lever it bears normally upon the tumbler 11, so that the tumbler cannot be raised without the lever is also raised. The lever is is made heavy, so that it will act as a Weight to hold the tumbler down in its engaging position. In addition to this weight each knob is provided with a weight, as shown at Z. The knob is form ed of the two parts L and Z. (Shown in Figs. 4 and 5.) The part Z is in effect nothing more than a disk Z" with the weight Z, formed integrally therewith and upon one side of its axis. The part L is in effect a hollow shell adapted to receive within it the weight Z.

The two parts are placed together and secured by any means that may be found preferable in view of the nature of the material of which the shell may be formed. It may be of porcelain, glass, metal, rubber, or any other desired material. Opposite the weight Z a short flange Z projects from the disk Z in a direction parallel to its axis. This flange adds strength to the knob and aids in hold ing the parts in their proper positions with respect to each other while they are being secured together. It may be omitted entirely, or it may be made to extend to and join the weight Z. In this latter case the part Z of the knob would constitute the hollow shell, and the part L might be reduced to the form of a simple disk and be secured over the open end of the-shell. It is obviously immaterial to which of the two parts of the knob the weight Z is secured.

A knob of the above description is secured to each end of the spindle B, and their preponderating sides are so situated that they tend always to turn the spindle in the direction that will cause the latch O to be projected and the lever 7t depressed. If the parts are arranged as shown in the drawings, the preponderating sides of the knobs should be on the side of the spindle adjacent the latch; but if the point of connection a between the nut K and the latch C were below instead of above the axis of the spindle, then the preponderating sides of the knobs should be placed on the opposite side of the spindle. By thus weighting the spindle B and connecting it with the latch O the latter may be held normally in its shot position without the aid of a spring of any sort, and by placing on the spindle thus weighted, the lever bearing upon the tumbler H, the latter is in like manner held to its work. Thus either the spring or the weights may be omitted, though I prefer to employ both, as shown in the drawings. If the weights Z be omitted, the spring will fulfill the double duty of shooting the latch and holding the tumbler to its work. The former it will accomplish directly by hearing against the latch. The latter it will accomplish directly by bearing against the arm h of the tumbler, or indirectly through the medium of the latch C, the nut K, and the lever 70, if the inner end of the spring is made to bear against something other than the arm h of the tumbler.

I am aware that it is not new to place between the latch and the tumbler of a lock a spring so arranged as to perform the double function of shooting the latch and holding the tumbler normally in engagement. I am aware, also, that a weight has been secured to the spindle of aknob or handle having a central stem so as to cause one side of it to preponderate, said weight being entirely external with respect to the knob or handle; but I am not aware that a knob or handle having a central stem has ever contained within its boundaries a weight situated eccentrically with respect to said stem.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a lock, the combination of the lockbolt, the tumbler, the latch, the spring for projecting it, the spindle, and the lever projecting from the spindle and engaging the tumblers, substantially as set forth- 2. In alock, the combinatiomwith the latch and spindle suitably connected, of a knob secured centrally to the spindle and having within it an eccentric weight, substantially as set forth.

3. In a lock, the combination, with the latch, the tumbler, and the spindle, of a connection between said spindle and latch, a connection between said spindle and tumbler, and a weight secured eccentrically to said spindle for operating both the latch and tumbler,

substantially as set forth.

4. In a lock, the combination, with the latch, the tumbler, and the spindle, of a connection between said spindle and latch, a connection between said spindle and tumbler,andaknob secured to said spindle and having within it an eccentrically-arranged weight, substantially as set forth.

'5. In a lock, the combination, with the lockbolt, the latch, the spindle, and the weight eccentrically secured thereto, of the tumbler engaging the lock-bolt, and a lever projecting from the spindle and engaging said tumbler, substantially as set forth.

6. In a lock, the combination, with thelockbolt, the latch O, and the tumbler H, of the nut K, loosely connected to the latch and having the lever k engaging the tumbler, the spindle B, engaging said nut, and the weight eccentrically secured to said spindle, sub stantially as set forth.

7. In a lock, the combination, with the lockbolt and thelatch, of an eccentrically-weighted spindle engaging said latch, a weighted tumbler engaging said lock-bolt, and a lever projecting from the preponderating side of the spindle and engaging said tumbler, substantially as set forth.

8. In a lock, the combination,with the lockbolt, the latch, and tumbler, of a spring interposed between the latch and tumbler, an eccentrically-Weighted spindle, connection between the spindle and latch, and connection between the spindle and tumbler, substantially as set forth.

9. As a new article of manufacture, aknob IIO centrally secured to its spindle and having the knob situated eccentrically with respect within it a weight situated eccentrically with to the stem of the knob, substantially as set respect to said spindle, substantially as set forth.

forth. WM. NEHRIiIG. 5 10. As a new article of manufacture, aknob Witnesses:

formed of a hollow shell, a disk secured to JAMES T. WALKER,

and closing said shell, and a Weight Within NETTIE C. ELLIOTT. 

